Steve the IT Tech Guy

PPTP Server Not Working On Tomato Router

I love Tomato Router. I normally use the Shibby Firmware that has VPN options built in. Strange thing is when I enable the PPTP server option on the router some will work as normal. Others I have to add a script to open Port 1723. I troubleshooted the issue I had with a client by using nmap. Great utility to see what ports are open or not. When I ran nmap on the LAN side to the router port 1723 was open when PPTP server was enabled. When I ran in on the WAN side it was not. Sometimes your ISP will block 1723 but this was a business account and the ISP did not. I search online and found the answer.

In the Tomato Firmware go to Administration-Scripts-Firewall. Add the following script:

#!/bin/sh
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp –dport 1723 -j ACCEPT
iptables -t nat -I PREROUTING -p tcp –dport 1723 -j ACCEPT
iptables -I INPUT -p tcp –dport 1723 -j ACCEPT

Save and then reboot the router. (IMPORTANT before the dport on the 3 lines is a double dash. When copy and paste it will only make 1 so you will need to add the -)

Once I did this I tested nmap and port 1723 was then open. I could then connect to my VPN server.

Sage 50 Accounting Has Encountered An Unexpected Error

This error usually caused by Net Framework issue. Here is Sage article describing solutions:

Error: “Sage 50 Accounting has encountered an unexpected error and needs to close”

Products

Sage 50—Canadian Edition

Description

I get the error “Sage 50 Accounting has encountered an unexpected error and needs to close” is occurring intermittently (randomly) but most often when drilling in any report. Sometimes it works, other times I get the error message. In viewing the Events Viewer logs, there is a .NET Framework error preceding this error.
I get the error “Sage 50 Accounting has encountered an unexpected error and needs to close” is occurring intermittently (randomly) when I process a transaction. Sometimes it works, other times I get the error message. In viewing the Events Viewer logs, there is a .NET Framework error preceding this error.
I get the error “Sage 50 Accounting has encountered an unexpected error and needs to close” all the time. In viewing the Events Viewer logs, there is a .NET Framework error preceding this error.
Error “Sage 50 (0069-rel 2013-3) has encountered problem” after installing release 3
Displays error: “Sage 50 Connection Manager [0036-rel\2014.0] has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.”
Error “Sage 50 Accounting [0024-rel\2014.2] has stopped working” when opening a report or when trying to select the option of “make other payment”.
Error “Sage 50 Accounting [0024-rel\2014.2] has stopped working” when opening a company file or sample company.

Disclaimer

Operating System Warning

This solution requires advanced knowledge of your computer’s operating system. Contact your system administrator for assistance. Modifying your Windows Registry incorrectly can severely affect system operations. Sage is not responsible for operation issues caused by incorrectly modifying your Windows Registry. Always create a backup of your data before proceeding with advanced solutions.

Support

Sage Customer Support does not provide assistance for issues related to third party products or enhancements, hardware, report customizations, state or federal tax-related questions, or specific accounting questions. Please contact your Sage Business Partner, network administrator, or accountant for assistance. Please review this document for additional information on the scope of Sage Customer Support Services.

Cause

This issue is primarily caused by corrupt WMI.
Sage 50 is based on Microsoft .NET Framework technology.
As of version 2013 of Sage 50, it relies on version 4.x of .NET Framework.
Version 4.0 has been reported to be the most common version where this error is occurring.
Version 4.5 has been reported to not cause this problem or lessen the frequency of this problem.
.NET Framework 4.5 is available for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista
.NET Framework 4.5 is not available for Windows XP.

Resolution

Solution I

Run Msinfo32 to verify if windows can collect data.
1. Click the Start button.
2. Directly in the search bar, type ‘msinfo32’ and press the Enter key.
3. A window appears showing System information (under System Summary)
4. If Windows is unable to load msinfo32 or collect data then consult your IT person (or the computer brand support line to repair Windows until msinfo32 loads properly).

Solution II

The steps below must be performed by a certified Windows technician.
Repair .NET Framework 4.5:
1. If you already have .NET Framework 4.5 while .NET Framework 4.0 is not installed, then your .NET Framework 4.5 may be corrupted.
2. Try to repair it using this Microsoft tool: .NET Repair Tool.
Replace Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 with version 4.5:
- Windows Vista, 7 or 8:
  1. Uninstall .NET Framework 4.0 via your Control Panel then Programs.
  2. Reboot your PC.
  3. Consider resetting .NET Framework 3.5 (see Resetting .NET Framework 3.5 below).
  4. Uninstall Sage 50 201X via your Control Panel then Programs.
  5. Reboot your PC.
  6. Install .NET Framework 4.5.
  7. You can download version 4.5 from Microsoft’s website: download link. Reboot your PC.
  8. Install Sage 50 201X.
- Windows XP: .NET Framework 4.5 will not be made available by Microsoft. Sage recommends replacing your computer with a newer version of Windows due to Microsoft discontinuing Windows XP as of April 8 2014. (See Related Resources for more information)
  1. Repair .NET Framework 4.0 via your Control Panel then Add/Remove Program.
  2. Reboot.
  3. Repair .NET Framework 3.0 via your Control Panel then Add/Remove Program.
  4. Reboot if prompted.
Resetting .NET Framework 3.5:
1. Windows Vista, 7 or 8:
  1. If your Windows comes integrated with .NET Framework 3.5 in the case of Windows 8 (or 3.5.1 for Windows Vista/7), then you may need to also reset this integrated version. Sage 50 version 2013 and higher does not use .NET Framework 3.5 functionalities at all but .NET 4.0 may have interfered with 3.5 functionalities. Resetting 3.5 will re-enable 3.5 specific functions. Sage recommends resetting .NET Framework 3.5.
  2. Go to Control Panel then Programs.
  3. Click Turn Windows features on or off.
  4. Uncheck .NET Framework 3.5, or 3.5.1, (whichever you see available)
  5. Click OK.
  6. Reboot.
  7. Go to Control Panel then Programs
  8. Click on Turn Windows features on or off
  9. Reselect .NET Framework 3.5 (or 3.5.1)
  10. Click OK.
  11. Reboot.
2. Windows XP:
  1. If .NET Framework 3.5 is installed, then please repair it via Control Panel then Add/Remove Programs.
Uninstall Sage 50 201X.
Install Sage 50 201X.

Export Cached Email Address From Exchange

Have a client that has MS Exchange with Outlook 2010 on the clients. They are migrating to a new 2012 R2 server with no Exchange. Its a small client that does not need the Exchange and want to save money. I am just exporting all email/contacts etc from Exchange into a .PST file on the PC. They are just using POP accounts so no real issue. I point everything to the new PST file and remove the Exchange connector. Once I remove the Exchange connector all the cached email address’s are lost.If they were using Outlook 2007 or 2003 then the cache email’s would be in the .nk2 file and everything would be fine. Since its Outlook 2010 the cached email address’s are stored on the Exchange. What I had to do is Export the cached email address’s from Exchange to the PST. To do this I re-added the Exchange connector. Can see the cached email address. I then followed this MS Article on export and import. I exported from the Exchange profile (.ost) and then imported into the new PST. After following the instructions and then removed the Exchange connector everything was fine.

The main part of the article I used is the following:

How to export the auto-complete mailbox message

Exit Outlook, and then close Outlook Web Access or Outlook Web App (OWA) on all workstations that are connected to your mailbox.
Download and install MFCMAPI from http://mfcmapi.codeplex.com.
Run mfcmapi.exe.
On the Session menu, click Logon.
If you are prompted for a profile, select the desired profile name, and then click OK.
In the top pane, locate the line that corresponds to your mailbox, and then double-click it.
In the left-side navigation pane, expand Root Container, and then expand Top of Information Store or IPM_SUBTREE.
Right-click the Inbox folder, and then click Open Associated Content Table. This action opens a new MFCMAPI window that contains various properties.
Under the Subject column, right-click the item that has the subject IPM.Configuration.Autocomplete, and then click Export Message. This action opens the Save Message To File window.
In the drop-down list, select MSG file (UNICODE), and then click OK.
Select a folder location to which you want to save the message, and then click Save. Note this location.

How to import the auto-complete mailbox message

Exit Outlook, and then close Outlook Web Access or Outlook Web App (OWA) on all workstations that are connected to your mailbox.
Download and install MFCMAPI from http://mfcmapi.codeplex.com
Run mfcmapi.exe.
On the Session menu, click Logon.
If you are prompted for a profile, select the desired profile name, and then click OK.
In the top pane, locate the line that corresponds to your mailbox, and then double-click it.
In the left-side navigation pane, expand Root – Mailbox, and then expand Top of Information Store or IPM_SUBTREE.
Right-click the Inbox folder, and then click Open Associated Content Table. This action opens a new MFCMAPI window that contains various properties.
To avoid duplicate entries, you must delete the existing auto-complete message.Note Before you delete the IPM.Configuration.Autocomplete message, you must export the message by using the steps in the “How to export the Auto-Complete cache” section.
To delete the existing auto-complete message, follow these steps:
1. In the Subject column, locate the item that has the subject IPM.Configuration.Autocomplete.
2. Right-click the item, and then click Delete message. This opens the Delete Item window.
3. In the drop-down list, select Permanent deletion (deletes to deleted item retention if supported), and then click OK.
On the Folder menu, click Import, and then click From MSG.
Locate the .msg file that you created in step 11 of the “How to Export the Auto-Complete List” section, and then click OK.
In the Load MSG window that appears, select Load message into current folder in the Load style list, and then click OK.

iPhone or Android Phone Can’t Connect to Exchange

Have a client that just got a new Android phone and I could not connect to Exchange Active Sync. I found this article online that helped me.

Cannot sync iPhone with Exchange ActiveSync

Description
When trying to connect iPhone to Exchange 2010 (or 2007) with ActiveSync the following error message is shown on the iPhone:
“The connection to the server failed”

In addition to that, the following event is added to the Exchange server:
Event ID: 1008
Source: MSExchange ActiveSync

An exception occurred and was handled by Exchange ActiveSync. This may have been caused by an outdated or corrupted Exchange ActiveSync device partnership. This can occur if a user tries to modify the same item from multiple computers. If this is the case, Exchange ActiveSync will re-create the partnership with the device. Items will be updated at the next synchronization.

URL=/Microsoft-Server-ActiveSync/default.eas?User=username&DeviceId=whatever&DeviceType=iPhone&Cmd=FolderSync
— Exception start —
Exception type: Microsoft.Exchange.AirSync.AirSyncPermanentException
Exception message: The device container ExchangeActiveSyncDevices for the user ‘domain\username’ in Active Directory couldn’t be created.
Exception level: 0
HttpStatusCode: 500
AirSyncStatusCode: 111
XmlResponse:
This request does not contain a WBXML response.
Exception stack trace: at Microsoft.Exchange.AirSync.ADDeviceManager.CreateActiveSyncDeviceContainer(Boolean retryIfFailed)
at Microsoft.Exchange.AirSync.ADDeviceManager.CreateActiveSyncDevice(GlobalInfo globalInfo, ExDateTime syncStorageCreationTime, Boolean retryIfFailed)
at Microsoft.Exchange.AirSync.Command.UpdateADDevice(GlobalInfo globalInfo)
at Microsoft.Exchange.AirSync.Command.WorkerThread()
— Exception end —.
Solution
Make sure the user you try to use has “Include inheritable permissions from this object’s parent” checked on the Active Directory user’s permissions.

1. Open “Active Directory Users and Computers” (dsa.msc).
2. Go to “View” and make sure “Advanced Features” is checked, if it isn’t – check it.
3. Find the problematic user and open its “Properties” (right click –> Properties).
4. Go to the “Security” tab and click on the “Advanced” button.
5. Verify that the “Include inheritable permissions from this object’s parent” checkbox is checked. If it is, you may try to reset the user’s permissions by clicking on the “Restore defaults” button.

Affected software:
Microsoft Exchange 2007
Microsoft Exchange 2007 SP1
Microsoft Exchange 2007 SP2
Microsoft Exchange 2010

Outlook 2013 Won’t Start After Upgrade

Client had Office 2010 installed and Office 2013. Outlook 2010 was used because they had older Exchange 2003 that does not work with Outlook 2013. They got Exchange 2010 and tried to upgrade Outlook to 2013 but gave error could not start when running Outlook 2013. Tried safe mode and new email profile but nothing would work. All other 2013 apps like Word worked fine.

To solve the issue I had to uninstall Office 2013. Uninstall Office 2010. Ran Windows FIX IT to fully remove Office 2010. Also renamed the Outlook folders under C:\users\username\appdata\Local\Microsoft\Outlook and the \Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook to Outlookold. Then rebooted PC and did a fresh install of Office 2013. Outlook 2013 worked fine after this.

Windows 8.1 high CPU used by taskhost.exe

If you are running Windows 8.1 and your CPU is high for the taskhost.exe then it could be if you are using a local account with ‘user’ in the name. MS recommends not using a name called user. See MS Article

Can’t Print PDF To Network Printer

Have a client that recently changed their network printer. One of the clients could not print PDF’s. Could print everything else. Turned out that the machine just recently upgraded AVG from free version to AVG Internet Security version (trial) with firewall. Downgraded AVG back to free and solved issue.

Here is a link to AVG support that describes others having issues printing with Internet Security version.

Gadgets Missing Windows 7

Love the Gadgets on the Desktop for Windows 7. Even installed the Gadgets add on in Windows 8. The other day my Gadgets disappeared on screen. Even right-click and hit Gadgets did nothing. Found this article online that fixed it.

Basically you download the BAT file and then right-click on it and run as administrator.

All is well.

Why Tomato Firmware Is The Best Router

I deal with a lot of small routers for home and small business. I also deal with bit larger routers like small true Cisco routers and Fortinet’s FortiGate routers.

The more you pay usually the better the product. It all depends on what your needs are for a router. Most home users don’t care about certain things till they have to deal with your kids hogging all the bandwidth. or if you need to restrict access to certain devices or times. I have used the standard firmware in the small routers for home to do some of this but could not find one that has everything I need. I then started with open firmware DD-WRT. It’s OK. Better than the stock firmware on most routers but it did not have everything I wanted. The only firmware that fills my needs is Tomato. There are many different flavors of Tomato. Check out Wiki. The one I believe is the best is Shibby. I also wanted a decent fast router. The best for this is the Asus RT-N66U. Rated the best Tomato Routers out there.

Once I set this up at home it was like night and day difference between anything else I have ever used. Why is Tomato Shibby with the Asus RT-N66U the best router for a home or small business? Here are the stuff I can do with it:

– Gives me a detail info (MAC/IP/NAME) of each device connected and what network (LAN/Wireless)

– A detail Web Usage on what locations been and search terms. (customize size of log)

– Bandwidth and IP Traffic details in Real-Time/24Hrs/Daily/Weekly/Monthly (I can see who is hogging the bandwidth in great detail and can click on the IP and give Bandwidth Limits!)

– Detail port forwards that can restrict incoming from certain IP’s (great to block port 25 traffic to only allow email in from mail server)

– QOS. One of the best QOS for small routers.

– Access Restriction to block access by MAC or IP at certain times. Can also disable Wifi in a time window to either prevent hackers or to stop Wifi waves in the night when you are sleeping (some people are susceptible to Wifi signals)

-VPN Server either using PPTP or OpenVPN

– With the ASUS RT-N66U I have dual band AND I also can have a virtual Wireless to have a guest wifi for people coming over to share Internet but have NO access to network.

– Bandwidth Limiter. Like QOS but can individually throttle MAC/IP stations

– FTP Server with attached harddrive to USB port

– USB storage like FTP but can have SMB for local networks. Your own NAS if you like.

– Static DHCP/ARP/IPT allows me to assign a static IP from a client who is setup for DHCP by using MAC address

– Intercept DNS port (UDP 53). What this allows is if you are using OpenDNS (which I am) to restrict access to bad sites like porn. If you check this option then even if the device/PC has a manual DNS address to say Googles 8.8.8.8 it will bypass this and only go through the DNS assigned in the router (the OpenDNS).

These are the highlights of this firmware and router. Some of the stuff in here is better (easier to find and change) than the higher end routers like the FortiGate. Don’t get me wrong. The FortiGate routers are great! They have a lot of features BUT they are also expensive and if you want the Fortiguard options to block sites you have to pay per subscription. This router with Tomato and OpenDNS can also do similar things. It might not be as granular and customizable but will work.

Amendment:

Here is a link to a YouTube Video that describes the things Tomato can do. Here is another.

Here is a link to a forum discussing comparison to Tomato and a Mikrotik Router. I have played with a Mikrotik. It is much more complicated I feel. Also it can narrow down certain monitoring items but I still feel Tomato is the best for an overall monitor and troubleshooting system.

If you want to learn more about Tomato Firmware there is a site that offers a manual or videos called learntomato

Windows Updates Give Service Not Running or Can’t Download Files

Have had a few clients in that have issue doing Windows updates . Would give an error “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates because the service is not running”. Also some would have issues of downloading anything through the browser. Turns out it was caused by Intel Rapid Storage was corrupted. Reinstalled the Intel Rapid Storage and fixed the issue.

Here is an HP related story.

Another forum discussion

Steve the IT Tech Guy

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